Category: News

New Zealand’s game developers earned a record $143.0M in the financial year ending 31 March 2018 according to an independent survey of New Zealand Game Developers Association studios. That’s 43% growth since last year when the sector first passed the $100 million mark. 93% of that revenue came from exports of digital creative entertainment software. …

Kiwi Game Starter Finalists The four finalists below have been chosen to present to the judging panel before the NZ Game Developers Conference at the SkyCity Convention Centre on Wednesday, 1st August. Presentations will be contained to 10 minutes, followed by 10 minutes of judges’ questions. The winners will be announced before the Opening Keynote …

NZGDC18 is proud to announce the first We’re in Games Social (WinGS) event for women, non-binary and LGBTQIA+ game developers!     We believe all achievements deserve to be celebrated, whether they’re big or small, widespread or local, personal victories or public achievements. WinGS will be an opportunity to celebrate these achievements and allow women, …

For the first time, NZGDC18 will feature an Indie Biz Showcase evening event aimed at supporting New Zealand game developers. This is an opportunity to help up-and-coming game developers create connections and support networks to grow their business and advance their careers.   The event will showcase our vibrant games industry and promote the work …

We’re delighted to announce Caitlin Goodale as our final NZGDC18 Keynote speaker!   Caitlin is a User Experience Designer at King in Malmö, Sweden. A self-titled design dilettante, she makes games delightful to play through interaction design, user research and, yes, shiny buttons. Having worked on everything from Paint3D and Hololens at Microsoft, to Minecraft’s …

We’re happy to announce that the deadline for NZGDC18 Call for Speakers and Workshops is being extended by one week, to Monday 25th June at 9pm (NZ time, UTC+12:00).   NZGDC18 is calling for speakers and workshops who would like to present talks, panels or workshops covering game design, art, code and infrastructure, narrative and …

The NZGDA is pleased to announce that tickets for the New Zealand Game Developers Conference 2018 are available now at: https://nzgdc18.lilregie.com   We’re also looking for a number of volunteers, so if you’re interested please submit an application via the Volunteer form https://goo.gl/forms/Gf4BDoITfF9mLjFU2   Should you have any questions, please reach out to us at …

We’re super excited to announce Harry Nesbitt as our first NZGDC18 Keynote speaker! Harry is the lead artist and programmer from Team Alto, a collaboration with Toronto-based studio, Snowman. He is best known for the critically acclaimed Alto’s Adventure and recent Apple Design Award winner, Alto’s Odyssey. We’re delighted to have him over from the …

The NZGDA is proud to announce the New Zealand Game Developers Conference 2018 – an action-packed three day conference for professional and indie game developers in New Zealand’s fastest growing creative sector. NZGDC18 will be on August 1st-3rd hosted at SKYCITY Convention Centre.   NZGDC18 is calling for speakers and workshops who would like to …

Entries for the New Zealand Game Developers Association startup programme for interactive games businesses, the Kiwi Game Starter, are now open! Potential entrants should prepare their playable prototypes and business/marketing plans for submission via the submission form. The deadline for submissions is 5PM Monday, July 2nd. What is Kiwi Game Starter? Kiwi Game Starter is the …

During the opening of NZGDC17 last week we announced the winners of Kiwi Game Starter, and we’re excited to say they are: First Place Caves by Matthew Gatland Runner Up Sky Noon by Lunar Rooster The NZGDA thanks all of the Selection Panel and Finalist Judges who worked hard to make this difficult decision. You …

The New Zealand Game Developers Association would like to welcome our board members for 2017/2018. This year there were nine candidates for board, which is the exact number of positions available. As a result, members attending the AGM on September 6th will vote to put the candidates on record. This will save the unnecessary expense …

  Primary and secondary students made dozens of digital games and board games as part of a national education competition. The best of these are now online in a winners’ showcase, including two games you can play during your coffee break. This was the second year that the NZ Transport Agency has offered prizes to …

The NZGDA is excited to announce our finalists for this year’s Kiwi Game Starter! Caves by Matthew Gatland Sky Noon by Lunar Rooster Ten Thousand Coins by Tough Love Productions Ultra Break by Autotelic Finalists will be pitching to our three expert judges on September 6th, and the winners will be announced during the opening …

The NZGDA is excited to announce the schedule for the New Zealand Game Developers Conference 2017 is now available at https://nzgdc17.sched.com/. In addition, you can also register for our workshops here: https://nzgdc17workshops.lilregie.com/.   We are still locking in some of our speakers, which might result in minor changes to the schedule. By creating an account …

The NZGDA is pleased to announce that tickets for the New Zealand Game Developers Conference 2017 are available now at: https://nzgdc17.lilregie.com/. If you’re interested in volunteering at the event, please sign up at: https://goo.gl/forms/nJhCqGgsEvQhiIK83 Should you have any questions, please reach out to us at info@nzgda.com!

The New Zealand Film Commission’s pilot Interactive Development Fund is an exciting opportunity for game developers to get support for the early stage of their development. We reached out to NZFC to clarify three of the most frequently asked questions: FAQs from NZFC Is the fund intended for VR/AR only, or will being a VR/AR …

Looking at going to GDC this year? It’s an awesome event, but we know it can be a very expensive proposition attending an event on the other side of the world. Thanks to NZGDA, Dinosaur Polo Club, Callaghan Innovation and GDC themselves, we’ve pulled together a bunch of different scholarships to help more Kiwis make …

The Audio Game Hub team believe games should be for everyone. With nearly 300 million visually impaired around the world, the team specialise  in using sound and music to create games for both sighted and non-sighted users. “Nobody makes games for us” were the words that launched this collaborative project. What originated as a PhD research …

Kiwi Games Starter is the NZGDAs annual game development award and startup programme for interactive games businesses. Each year there is a large prize pool in the past including finical, legal and mentoring support for start-up game businesses. The competition aims to help early-stage games businesses to develop prototypes ready for investment or crowdfunding. Here are some …

One of New Zealand’s most dynamic tech sectors received a major boost today with the opening of the AR/VR Garage – a globally unique augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) development facility in Eden Terrace, which establishes Auckland as an international hub for this hot technology. The AR/VR Garage is right next door to the NZGDA’s …

New Zealand’s premier game development event – the New Zealand Game Developers Conference – will be bigger and better than ever on Thursday and Friday, 8th & 9th September at Auckland University of Technology. WEBPAGE HERE!

The 2016 Annual General Meeting of the NZ Game Developers Association Incorporated was held at on Wed 3 August 2016 at AUT University, Auckland. Here are the reports reflecting on the last year’s progress from departing Chairperson Stephen Knightly.

The NZGDA’s purpose is to represent, grow and support the success of New Zealand’s game development industry and community. Both are in great health yet have so much more potential.

New Zealand’s game development industry grew 13% last year to earn $88.9m in the year ending 31 March 2016 according to an independent survey of New Zealand Game Developers Association studios. Almost all of that revenue (92%) came from exports of interactive software and online services. “Entertainment software and apps continue to be one of …

Click here for the board member election results for 2016 >>>>http://nzgda.com/about-us/board/<<<< The NZ Game Developers Association is a not-for-profit organisation run by a diverse group of game developers from around New Zealand. You can learn more about our role and activities (including the 2016 Activity Plan) here: http://nzgda.com/about-us/what-is-the-nzgda/ July 15th – online ballots will be emailed …

Entries for the New Zealand Game Developer’s Association startup programme for interactive games businesses – the KiwiGameStarter – are now open, with business plans and playable prototypes due on 15 August by 5pm. https://goo.gl/forms/pGYmHsn4D7nPLixZ2 One promising games business will receive $10,000 funding, in addition to software, marketing, legal and business mentoring support. A runner up …

Robert and Peter Curry of Wellington’s Dinosaur Polo Club, the creators of the ingenious Mini Metro, came away with the Excellence in Audio Award and were nominated for four categories – including the Grand Prize – at the Independent Games Festival (IGF) this year, held during the Game Developers Conference 2016 in San Francisco. The IGF awards are arguably the most prestigious …

It was a momentous occasion at the Independent Games Festival (IGF) this year which were held during the Game Developer Conference in San Francisco.  Robert and Peter Curry of the Dinosaur Polo Club – the creators behind the ingenious Mini Metro came away with the Excellence in Audio Prize! After an initial round of judging by over …

Fifteen New Zealand game studios will be in San Francisco during the Game Developers Conference 2016. They have a number exciting job vacancies to fill and are on the look-out for talented people across all disciplines. Take this opportunity to explore the high quality work and lifestyle only New Zealand can offer.

It’s looking to be a watershed year for Magic Leap’s Mixed Reality Lightfield™ technology, and Wellington’s Weta Workshop is playing a pivotal creative role. Today, Magic Leap CEO, Rony Abovitz announced a Series C funding round, led by the Alibaba Group. At the same time, Weta Workshop CEO and one of Magic Leap’s founding directors, …

Grinding Gear Games, developer of the award-winning free-to-play action RPG Path of Exile, today announced that their latest expansion, Path of Exile: Ascendancy will be available on March 4th, 2016. Path of Exile: Ascendancy features the Lord’s Labyrinth, a daily changing maze of deadly traps and challenges designed to test the mettle of even the …

Auckland developers Andy Wiltshire (BulletProof) and Michael Reitzenstein (RockSolid) have created a new Unity Performance Plugin called RenderVision which provides overlay information on Culling opportunities in your game project – and have setup a partner website, UnityPerformance.com – featuring helpful performance guides for Unity game developers. Feel free to check out the links below and share …

www.thearcadeakl.co.nz The NZGDA has launched a shared work space for indie game developers called The Arcade Auckland – which is currently free for any casual NZGDA member to use and low cost for any regular member. It’s based within The Idea Collective Building at MOTAT (The Museum of Transportation and Technology) in Western Springs, Auckland. …

Players outrun WCKD in the Scorch in the officially licensed sequel to the mobile hit The Maze Runner™ Leading games publisher PikPok® today announced the launch of Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials ™ game for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Android. The officially licensed game, developed by veteran developer Sticky Studios and published by PikPok, is based …

Guest post by Patrick Corrieri of Dry Cactus, developers of hit indie game Poly Bridge. Dry Cactus is also sponsoring one of the NZGDA $5,000 travel grants for GDC 2016, after receiving a similar grant last year. It’s been a pretty intense year, what with working hard on Poly Bridge, dealing with its popularity and …

Guest post by Farah Khalaf, Auckland University of Technology student and NZGDA Board Member.   This year I had the privilege of attending GDC 2015 as an IGDAF Intel scholar. I remember standing in the middle of a train station, almost bursting into tears when I read the email. For those of you who aren’t familiar with …

We have 25 GDC 2016 All Access Passes PLUS three $5,000 travel grants for New Zealanders to get to the world’s premier games industry event: The Game Developers Conference, 14-18 March 2016 in San Francisco. Junior and intermediate game developers from all disciplines including indies and students are encouraged to apply. The judges will give …

Jeremy(TM) and Friends are excited to announce the release and immediate availability of Milton’s Tale 1.0, a finely polished puzzle game aiming to give people of all ages and gaming experience that “clever” feeling throughout. Available for free on iOS and Android, the game is presented entirely in a world of colored paper, and implements …

New Zealand’s creative industries added $3.848b to gross domestic product (GDP) in 2014 and are a significant contributor to national employment, a new report by PwC for WeCreate shows. Released today, the report measures the combined economic contribution of five creative industries: games, music, books and film and television. Figures in the report show nearly 20,000 …

Innovative video game Dynabrick is set to be New Zealand’s next digital hit export after winning the KiwiGameStarter, New Zealand’s only startup programme for interactive games businesses. The Dynabrick prototype was developed by Wellington-based developer Rox Flame. The second place went to Swordy by Frogshark. New Zealand Games Developers Association chairperson Stephen Knightly says Dynabrick …

According to the Digital New Zealand Report 2016 launched on 9 September 2015 by IGEA the proportion of the older Kiwi population that plays video games has increased in the past two years. Two fifths (43 per cent) of New Zealanders aged 65 and over now play video games, compared to only 32 per cent in 2013. …

New Zealand’s video game studios created 134 new high-tech creative jobs in the last financial year, according to an independent survey by the New Zealand Game Developers Association. The sector now employs 568 fulltime employees and earned $78.7m in FY2015, up 3% on the previous year. 82% of revenue came from digital exports. The survey …

18 entries were received for the 2015 KiwiGameStarter, with four finalists due to pitch to a judging panel at NZ GDC on 10 September 2015. Entries for New Zealand’s only startup programme for interactive games businesses – the KiwiGameStarter – are now open, with business plans and playable prototypes due on 28 August. One promising …

The NZ Game Developers Association is a not-for-profit organisation run by a diverse group of game developers from around New Zealand. The board for 2015/2016 includes experienced studio managers, upcoming indie developers, students, programmers, designers, lawyers, marketers, serious games developers with experience developing for PC, console, web and smartphones. They were elected at the Annual General Meeting of the NZ Game Developers Association on Wed 5 August at AUT University, Auckland.

Now that the Swing Racers has been featured on the App Store for almost a week, Morepork Games is proud to announce that the game has reached #1 Racing Game on the App Store in 37 countries, including UK, Australia, France, Germany, Italy & Japan! It has also reached #1 overall game in 7 countries …

The writer and director of How to Train Your Dragon I & II and other animation blockbusters, Dean DeBlois, is to speak as part of round two of the digital entertainment event AnimfxNZ 2014 at Wellington’s Paramount Theatre on 21 November. Weta Digital will also offer a presentation around the many facets of modern visual …

Depth is now available for pre-purchase on Steam! Pre-purchasers receive a 20% discount as well as the Exclusive Battle-Scarred Shark Skin + Exclusive Digital Ice Speargun Skin for taking the plunge early. Grab your copy now and be ready to play when the game goes live on November 3rd!

The annual, winter, shared, maker-space for NZ game-developers of any kind to meet, collaborate and compete in various global and local competitions is on again this August.  There is still only one site in Auckland this year but it’s already full so hopefully next year there’ll be more.  There are still slots for the free …

The New Zealand Game Developers Association has launched New Zealand’s first and only startup programme for interactive games businesses – the KiwiGameStarter.  One promising games business will receive funding, software, marketing, legal and business mentoring support worth $25,000. “The games industry has quickly become one of New Zealand’s largest creative sectors and a significant software …

Kiwi.js is a fast open-source mobile-first HTML5 game engine supporting both WebGL and Canvas rendering. After 12 months of development, the full 1.0 release of Kiwi.js is available from www.kiwijs.org. Kiwi features its own renderer optimised for fast graphics on both WebGL and Canvas on smartphones and desktops, a library of plug-ins and game blueprints, …

The NZ Game Developers Conference 2014 (#NZGDC14) will be on Friday 19 September 2014 at AUT University in Auckland – the same awesome venue as last year. Last year’s conference sold out with over 320 delegates – 100 more than the previous year – and had extremely positive feedback. With all the current buzz around …

PAX Australia is once again hosting a space to specifically showcase Australian and New Zealand indie games and studios for a reduced cost. The ANZ Indie Pavilion will accommodate up to 36 developers, who will each be allocated a small podium where their games will be highlighted and playable. Having so many developers within the …

New Zealand’s interactive games industry has recorded $133 million of traditional retail sales and an estimated NZD$162 million of digital sales in 2013, according to research released by the Interactive Games & Entertainment Association (IGEA). These latest figures put the overall retail value of New Zealand’s interactive games industry in 2013 just shy of NZD$300 …

Telecom together with the New Zealand Game Developers Association (NZGDA) is bringing more than 20 local developers to DIGITAL NATIONZ, New Zealand’s first digital entertainment expo in an effort to showcase the strength and breadth of expertise in online and digital gaming at work right here in NZ. “This is a great opportunity for our …

Te Papa announced topline international game developers Masaya Matsuura and Luke Muscat as keynote speakers for Game Masters – The Forum to be held at Te Papa on 4 and 5 March 2013.   Game Masters – The Forum brings together game developers, artists, educators, researchers, and filmmakers. A collaborative event, the goal of the …

Two games by New Zealand designers are to be included in the blockbuster new exhibition Game Masters when it opens at Te Papa on 15 December 2012. The two games have been selected to represent both ends of game development in New Zealand, and to celebrate New Zealand’s contribution to the game development industry. Shatter …

Kiwi game studios released 73 commercial video games in the last year, primarily selling them digitally on iPhones, websites and Android smartphones. The local industry has nearly doubled in the last two years and employed 380 full-time equivalent game developers as of 31 March 2012, according to a survey of NZ Game Developers Association members. …

Innovative arcade platform game by Conix Games now available on the App Store

Every day across the world, millions of people enter virtual worlds through video games. The Dowse Art Museum is excited to celebrate what is now the fastest-growing form of mass art with a major exhibition of New Zealand video gaming – Arcade: Homegrown Video Games opens on 10 November and runs throughout the summer months …

SYDNEY, Australia – May 23, 2012: Tru Blu Entertainment announced today that Rugby Challenge will be available on the PlayStation® Vita handheld entertainment system, on 27 June 2012 in Europe, UK, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. The first game ever published for the PlayStation Vita by Tru Blu Entertainment features console quality Rugby Challenge …

The NZGDA Conference programme is out and you can download it here!   Like the best games, it’s full of tough choices: which sessions will you go to?  Will you party all night after Indie Game: The Movie?  Will you pitch for the $2000 Amazon Web Services credit? Our Keynote Speakers: an IGF Finalist + a Top AppStore …

INDIE GAME: THE MOVIE, directed by James Swirsky and Lisanne Pajot, looks at the underdogs of the video game industry, indie game developers, who sacrifice money, health and sanity to realize their lifelong dreams of sharing their creative visions with the world. This Sundance award-winning film captures the tension and drama by focusing on these artists’ vulnerability …

The New Zealand Game Developers Association Conference is a one-day action-packed conference for professional and indie game developers on Saturday 19 May. The conference pulls no punches, with experienced presenters telling it like it really is. Featuring some of New Zealand and Australia’s leading game developers from Sidhe/PikPok, Cerebral Fix, Smallworlds, Gameloft, Grinding Gear Games, …

Quirky arcade puzzle game to hit the App Store in March 2012 WELLINGTON, New Zealand – February 27, 2012 – Leading Smartphone games publisher, PikPok®, today announced it would publish Monster Flip™ for iOS, an original title developed by Launching Pad Games. Monster Flip challenges gamers to swipe, flip and match monsters to help them …

Hit Tower Defense Game Credits Innovative Design and Frequent Updates for Its Eight-Months-and-Counting Position on the iPhone Top 100 US Apps Chart Ninja Kiwi, a leading developer and publisher of web and smart phone games, and Digital Goldfish, a leading developer of smart phone and handheld games, today announced that Bloons TD4 has surpassed one-million …

Pre-orders now available for acclaimed soundtrack on vinyl WELLINGTON, New Zealand – November 3, 2011 – Console developer Sidhe announced today the highly acclaimed soundtrack from their award winning game, Shatter, will be available on vinyl as an exclusive limited edition release. Musician extraordinaire, Jeramiah “Module” Ross, has edited and remastered his original soundtrack for …

Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. (“Mad Catz”) (AMEX/TSX: MCZ) announced today the shipping of Jonah Lomu Rugby Challenge throughout North America for the Xbox 360 ® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. “We are excited to be shipping Jonah Lomu Rugby Challenge. The game is receiving positive reviews and there is a lot of excitement …

AUKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – October, 2011 – Eat, grow and bump your way to the top as Ninja Kiwi®, a leading developer and publisher of web and smart phone games, today announced Hungry Sumo, an addictive and entertaining puzzle arcade game, is now available on iOS for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. Already a …

SAN DIEGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. (“Mad Catz”) (AMEX/TSX: MCZ) announced today that it will publish and distribute Jonah Lomu Rugby Challenge throughout North America for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, currently anticipated to begin shipping in September 2011. “We are very excited to bring this popular rugby franchise …

Available At Retail from 2 September 2011 SYDNEY, Australia – August 24, 2011 – Tru Blu Entertainment announced today Rugby Challenge for PlayStation®3 and Microsoft Xbox 360® would release in New Zealand on 2 September, and Australia and South Africa on 8 September. The game will be marketed in New Zealand as All Blacks Rugby …

LONDON, England and WELLINGTON, New Zealand – August 01, 2011 – PikPok™ and Chelsea Football Club today announced the launch of Flick Kick™ Chelsea for Android, bringing the popular branded version of Flick Kick™ Football to the growing Android audience. Flick Kick™ Chelsea for Android features multiple gameplay modes, the ability to challenge other players, …

SYDNEY, Australia – July 18, 2011 – Home Entertainment Suppliers Pty Ltd (HES) revealed today that major European rugby union leagues Aviva Premiership Rugby, TOP 14 Orange, and RaboDirect PRO12 have been licensed for upcoming video game Rugby Challenge coming to PlayStation®3, PS Vita, Microsoft Xbox 360® and PC. The game will be released in …

US, October 9, 2009 – SANTA MONICA, CA – Activision Publishing, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) today announced that DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc.’s (Nasdaq: DWA) Madagascar Kartz video game will be released on October 27 for Wii, Nintendo DS, Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system. The video game …